Wandala

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
mfi
Alternate Names
Mandara, Mandara Montagnard, Ndara
Autonym
Wandala
User Population

23,500 in Cameroon (1982 SIL). Total users in all countries: 43,500.

Location

Far North region: Mayo-Sava division, east of Mora, north and northwest in a semicircle, to Nigeria border.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, Biu-Mandara, A, A.4, Mandara Proper, Mandara
Dialects

Kamburwama, Masfeima, Jampalam, Ziogba, Mazagwa, Gwanje, Wandala (Mandara), Mura (Duwe, Kirdi-Mora, Mora Brousse, Mora Massif), Gamargu (Gamergou, Gamergu, Malgo, Malgwa).

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use French [fra], as language of public education. Also use Adamawa Fulfulde [fub]. Also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu]. Used as L2 by Vame [mlr], Wuzlam [udl], Yerwa Kanuri [knc].

Language Development

200–300 read Wandala. Grammar. NT: 1988.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Wandala
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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